(1) As used in this section:

(a) ‘High school equivalency program’ means a program provided to assist a student in earning a certificate for passing an approved high school equivalency test such as the General Educational Development (GED) test.

(b) ‘High school equivalency student’ means a student who is eligible to attend school under ORS § 339.115 (1) and who is enrolled in a high school equivalency program.

(c) ‘Homeschooled student’ means a child who is taught by a private teacher, a parent or a legal guardian, as described in ORS § 339.030.

(d) ‘Interscholastic activities’ includes:

(A) For students in any grade from kindergarten through grade 12, athletics, music, speech and other similar or related activities.

(B) For students in any grade from kindergarten through grade eight, activities that are offered only before or after regular school hours and that may, but are not required to, involve interaction among other schools.

(e) ‘Public charter school’ has the meaning given that term in ORS § 338.005.

(2) A school district may not deny a high school equivalency student, a homeschooled student or a student who attends a public charter school that does not provide interscholastic activities the opportunity to participate in all interscholastic activities available in the school district within the attendance boundaries in which the high school equivalency student, homeschooled student or public charter school student resides if the student fulfills the following conditions, as applicable:

(a)(A) For a high school equivalency student or a homeschooled student, the student must meet all school district eligibility requirements except:

(i) The school district’s school or class attendance requirements; and

(ii) The class requirements of the voluntary association that administers the interscholastic activity, if applicable.

(B) For a student who attends a public charter school, the student must meet all school district eligibility requirements except the school district’s school or class attendance requirements.

(b) For a homeschooled student or a student who attends a public charter school, the student must demonstrate academic eligibility by meeting one of these requirements:

(A) Achieve a minimum score that places the student at or above the 23rd percentile, based on national norms, on an examination from the list the State Board of Education adopts under ORS § 339.035. The student must take the examination prior to the beginning of the school year in which the student will participate in an interscholastic activity and for which academic eligibility is being determined, and the student’s parent or legal guardian must submit the results to the school district for use in determining the student’s academic eligibility.

(B) Meet alternative requirements that a school district adopts, in consultation with the student’s parent or legal guardian, to participate in interscholastic activities, including but not limited to a requirement that a student submit a portfolio of work samples to a school district committee for review to determine whether the student is eligible to participate in interscholastic activities.

(c) For a high school equivalency student, the student must demonstrate academic eligibility by showing that, prior to beginning the interscholastic activity, the student has passed at least one practice test administered through the high school equivalency program.

(3)(a) In addition to the requirements set forth in subsection (2) of this section, a public charter school that enrolls a student who intends to participate in an interscholastic activity must pay to the school district or school that offers the interscholastic activity, as appropriate and if the school district or school requires payment as provided by this subsection:

(A) An annual fee that is equivalent to not more than five percent of the amount of the school district’s General Purpose Grant per ADMw, as calculated under ORS § 327.013; and

(B) An additional annual fee that is equivalent to not more than five percent of the amount of the school district’s General Purpose Grant per ADMw, as calculated under ORS § 327.013, if participating in the interscholastic activity requires the student to enroll in a course for credit.

(b) The school district and the public charter school shall enter into an agreement to specify the amount of the fees described in paragraph (a) of this subsection.

(c) A public charter school is required to pay a fee described in paragraph (a) of this subsection only once per year per student participating in an interscholastic activity at a school in the school district, regardless of the number of interscholastic activities in which the student participates.

(4) A high school equivalency student, a homeschooled student or a student who attends a public charter school may participate in interscholastic activities while awaiting examination or practice test results unless the student is awaiting the results to restore academic eligibility.

(5) A high school equivalency student, a homeschooled student or a student who attends a public charter school who does not maintain academic eligibility is ineligible to participate in interscholastic activities for the school year in which the student is determined to be academically ineligible unless:

(a) At least 18 weeks have passed from the later of the date that the student:

(A) Was determined to have not maintained academic eligibility; or

(B) Became a high school equivalency student or a homeschooled student; and

(b) The student takes the required examinations or practice tests and meets the standards described in subsection (2)(b) or (c) of this section.

(6)(a) A high school equivalency student, a homeschooled student or a student who attends a public charter school must fulfill the same responsibilities and standards of behavior and performance, including related class or practice requirements, as other students who participate in the interscholastic activity. The student must also comply with all public school requirements during the time of participation.

(b) A student who attends a public charter school must be allowed to participate in an interscholastic activity in the same manner that a resident of the school district may participate in the interscholastic activity. A school district may not give priority to residents of the school district to participate in interscholastic activities, but may require a student who attends a public charter school to satisfy any standards for acceptance for participation.

(7) A high school equivalency student, a homeschooled student or a student who attends a public charter school who participates in interscholastic activities must reside within the attendance boundaries of the school at which the student participates unless the school district has a policy that allows any student attending a school of the school district to participate in interscholastic activities at any school of the school district. [1991 c.914 1,2; 1999 c.717 § 2; 2003 c.14 § 150; 2017 c.550 § 2; 2018 c.16 § 1; 2021 c.70 § 2; 2023 c.81 § 13]

STUDENT ACCOUNTING SYSTEM

(1) For purposes of the student accounting system required by ORS § 339.515, the following definitions shall be used:

(a) ‘Graduate’ means an individual who has:

(A) Not reached 21 years of age or whose 21st birthday occurs during the current school year;

(B) Met all state requirements and local requirements for attendance, competence and units of credit for high school; and

(C) Received one of the following:

(i) A high school diploma issued by a school district or a public charter school.

(ii) A high school diploma issued by an authorized community college.

(iii) A modified diploma issued by a school district or a public charter school.

(iv) An extended diploma issued by a school district or a public charter school.

(b) ‘School dropout’ means an individual who:

(A) Has enrolled for the current school year, or was enrolled in the previous school year and did not attend during the current school year;

(B) Is not a high school graduate;

(C) Has not received a certificate for passing an approved high school equivalency test such as the General Educational Development (GED) test; and

(D) Has withdrawn from school.

(c) ‘School dropout’ does not include a student described by at least one of the following:

(A) A student who has transferred to another educational system or institution that leads to graduation and the school district has received a written request for the transfer of the student’s records or transcripts.

(B) A student who is deceased.

(C) A student who is participating in home instruction paid for by the district.

(D) A student who is being taught by a private teacher, parent or legal guardian pursuant to ORS § 339.030 (1)(d) or (e).

(E) A student who is participating in a Department of Education approved public or private education program, an alternative education program as defined in ORS § 336.615 or a hospital education program, or is residing in a Department of Human Services or an Oregon Health Authority facility.

(F) A student who is temporarily residing in a shelter care program certified by the Oregon Youth Authority or in a juvenile detention facility.

(G) A student who is enrolled in a foreign exchange program.

(H) A student who is temporarily absent from school because of suspension, a family emergency, or severe health or medical problems that prohibit the student from attending school.

(I) A student who has received a certificate for passing an approved high school equivalency test such as the General Educational Development (GED) test.

(2) The State Board of Education shall prescribe by rule when an unexplained absence becomes withdrawal, when a student is considered enrolled in school, acceptable alternative education programs under ORS § 336.615 to 336.665 and the standards for excused absences for purposes of ORS § 339.065 for family emergencies and health and medical problems. [1991 c.805 § 4; 1993 c.676 § 51; 1997 c.89 § 1; 1997 c.249 § 100; 1999 c.59 § 87; 1999 c.717 § 5; 2001 c.490 § 9; 2003 c.14 § 151; 2005 c.22 § 234; 2007 c.407 § 4; 2007 c.660 § 19; 2007 c.858 § 35; 2009 c.595 § 213; 2009 c.618 § 6; 2017 c.66 § 16; 2023 c.202 § 1]

The amendments to 339.505 by section 1, chapter 202, Oregon Laws 2023, become operative July 1, 2024. See section 9, chapter 202, Oregon Laws 2023. The text that is operative until July 1, 2024, is set forth for the user’s convenience.

(1) For purposes of the student accounting system required by ORS § 339.515, the following definitions shall be used:

(a) ‘Graduate’ means an individual who has:

(A) Not reached 21 years of age or whose 21st birthday occurs during the current school year;

(B) Met all state requirements and local requirements for attendance, competence and units of credit for high school; and

(C) Received one of the following:

(i) A high school diploma issued by a school district or a public charter school.

(ii) A high school diploma issued by an authorized community college.

(iii) A modified diploma issued by a school district or a public charter school.

(iv) An extended diploma issued by a school district or a public charter school.

(v) An alternative certificate issued by a school district or a public charter school.

(b) ‘School dropout’ means an individual who:

(A) Has enrolled for the current school year, or was enrolled in the previous school year and did not attend during the current school year;

(B) Is not a high school graduate;

(C) Has not received a certificate for passing an approved high school equivalency test such as the General Educational Development (GED) test; and

(D) Has withdrawn from school.

(c) ‘School dropout’ does not include a student described by at least one of the following:

(A) A student who has transferred to another educational system or institution that leads to graduation and the school district has received a written request for the transfer of the student’s records or transcripts.

(B) A student who is deceased.

(C) A student who is participating in home instruction paid for by the district.

(D) A student who is being taught by a private teacher, parent or legal guardian pursuant to ORS § 339.030 (1)(d) or (e).

(E) A student who is participating in a Department of Education approved public or private education program, an alternative education program as defined in ORS § 336.615 or a hospital education program, or is residing in a Department of Human Services or an Oregon Health Authority facility.

(F) A student who is temporarily residing in a shelter care program certified by the Oregon Youth Authority or in a juvenile detention facility.

(G) A student who is enrolled in a foreign exchange program.

(H) A student who is temporarily absent from school because of suspension, a family emergency, or severe health or medical problems that prohibit the student from attending school.

(I) A student who has received a certificate for passing an approved high school equivalency test such as the General Educational Development (GED) test.

(2) The State Board of Education shall prescribe by rule when an unexplained absence becomes withdrawal, when a student is considered enrolled in school, acceptable alternative education programs under ORS § 336.615 to 336.665 and the standards for excused absences for purposes of ORS § 339.065 for family emergencies and health and medical problems.